Pouring spout for cans



Sept.- 20, 1938. H. SEBELL POURING $POUT FOR CANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 10, l938 Fig.1. 4 2 ms I827 \3 7 \l \s 271M833 17 u lnvenTor. Harry Sebell MMW Anya.

Sept. 20, 1938. H. SEBELL POURING SPOUT FOR CANS Filed May 10, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ll byanl 'ATTys.

Sept. 20, 1938.

H. SEBELL POURING SPOUT FOR CANS Filed May 10, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 mvenTor.

MHoTf SebeH bywmlw ATtys.

Patented Sept. 20, 1938 POURING SPOUT FOR CANS Harry Sebell, Cambridge, Mass., assignor of onehalf to Arthur H. Parker, Lexington, Mass.

Application May 10, 1938, Serial No. 207,053

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a pouring spout for cans or other containers, and it has for its object to provide a novel pouring spout or nozzle which is normally concealed within a raised portionwith which the top end of the can is provided and which is normally held in its concealed position by a cap or cover that is removably secured to said raised portion, the construction being such that when the cap or cover is removed the pouring spout or nozzle will be automatically projected from the raised portion into a pouring position, in which it is situated to deliver the contents of the can at a point beyond the upper edge thereof when the contents of the can are being discharged.

In order to give an understanding of the invention I have illustrated in the drawings some selected embodiments thereof which will now be described after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

" In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional View through a can embodying my invention and showing the pouring spout in concealed position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the cap removed and the pouring spout in pouring position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a diiferent embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the construction shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 'is a fragmentary view partially in sec- 5 tion illustrating still a different embodiment of the invention;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view similar to Figs. 1 and 3 but showing still a different embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the ring 40;

Fig. 9 is a section on substantially the line 9-9, Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line Ill-l8, Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view through the spout when in retracted position.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, 1 indicates a can having the body portion '2 and the upper can end 3 which is secured to the body portion in any suitable or usual way. The can end 3 is provided with a raised portion l having the side wall 5 and the closed top 6. The side wall 5 is formed with a spout-receiving opening 1 adapted to receive a pouring spout or nozzle and said wall is also provided with a vent open-- -ing 9.

This raised portion 4 is illustrated as being formed from a separate piece from the can end 3, and the lower edge ID of said raised portion is shown as fitting over and encircling an upstanding fiange ll formed on the can end 3, 5 said lower edge Ill and the flange being soldered or otherwise permanently secured together with a leak-tight joint.

The pouring spout 8 is movable from its retracted position shown in Fig. 1 through the 10 spout-receiving opening 1 and into its projected or pouring position shown in Fig. 2. l 2 indicates a spring located within the housing 4 and which acts on the nozzle 3 tending normally to project it forwardly into its pouring position. The nozzle 15 is normally held in its retracted position by means of a cap 13 which fits over the raised portion 4, and the skirt M of which closes or seals both the spout-receiving opening 1 and the vent opening 9 so that when the cap [3 is in 20 place on the raised portion 4 the can will be tightly sealed. In the construction shown in Fig. 1 the raised portion 4 is illustrated as having the shoulder l5 carrying a gasket i8 against which the lower edge of the cap l3 rests when 25 it is in place, and this gasket it thus provides a double seal for the can. The construction is such that when the cap is removed from the raised portion the spring I2 automatically comesinto action thereby to force the nozzle 8 out 30 wardly through the opening 1 and into the pouring position shown Fig. 2. In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the nozzle 8 is provided at its inner end with an outwardly extending flange H which by its engagement with 5 wall 5 of the raised portion limits the outward or spring-impelled movement of the nozzle. Means are provided for guiding the nozzle in its outward movement as well as in its retracting movement and also for holding the spring in 40 proper position. For this purpose there is shown a guiding tube 18 which is rigidly secured at one end to the wall 5 as shown at l9, and the other end 20 of which tube fits within a guiding sleeve 21 that in turn fits within and is carried by the 45 inner end of the nozzle 8. This guiding sleeve 25 extends inwardly beyond the inner end of the nozzle 8 and the inner end 22 thereof is enlarged to provide a shoulder which engages the flange I1 and also to provide a seat portion 23 which 50 receives the outer end of the spring 52. The guiding tube It is formed with a plurality of perforations 2i and is open at its outer end so that the contents of the can can freely flow into and through the tube to the projected nozzle when the contents of the can are being discharged.

When the filled can is delivered to the purchaser it will be in the condition shown in Fig. 1 with the can sealed by the cap I3 and with the nozzle 8 located within the raised portion 4.

When the purchaser desires to use part or all of the contents of the can, he simply removes the cap I3 as shown in Fig. 2, and as soon as this. is done the spring I2 acts automatically to force the pouring nozzle 8 outwardly into its pouring position, as shown in Fig. 2.

I will preferably so dimension the parts that when the pouring nozzle is in its pouring position the outer or delivery end thereof will extend slightly beyond the corner 24 of the can. This will enable the contents of the can to be poured over and free from said corner 24 and will prevent any drip from the nozzle accumulating on the top of the can.

In Figs. 3, 4, and 5 I have illustrated a somewhat difierent embodiment of the invention wherein the movable cap I3a is screw-threaded to the raised portion 4a. In this embodiment too the pouring nozzle 8a is made slightly tapering with its smaller diameter at the outer end, and the nozzle-receiving opening la is surrounded by an inwardly extending flange 25 within which the nozzle has a tight non-leaking fit when it is in its projected position. The inner end of the nozzle is shown as being flanged at 26 to provide means for preventing the nozzle from being entirely ejected from the opening Ia. The spring for moving the nozzle forwardly is indicated at I 2a and it is guided and retained in position by a pin I21 which is rigid with the wall 5a of the raised portion and extends horizontally in axial alignment with the nozzle 8. This guiding pin I2? is small enough so that when the nozzle is retracted it will enter the bore of the nozzle and it thus provides a guide for the forward movement of the nozzle.

The nozzle may have any cross-sectional shape desired. In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated a nozzle which has a general elliptical shape in cross section but the nozzle may be round or have any other cross-sectional shape without departing from the invention.

9a is a vent opening which is shown as situated at one side of the guiding pin I21.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a construction wherein the cap I3b fits the cylindrical wall of the raised portion 4a with a friction fit, this construction being similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 except ;that there is no gasket employed at the lower edge of theskirt of the cap, and the friction fit between such skirt and the side wall 5b of the raised portion is relied on to provide the tight seal for the can.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a still different embodiment of the invention wherein the raised nozzle-receiving portion of the can has a swivel connection with the can end. In this embodiment the raised nozzle-receiving portion is indicated at 40 and it houses the nozzle which is backed by the spring I20. I30 indicates the removable cap which encloses the raised portion 40 and which when in place retains the nozzle in its retracted position. When the cap I 30 is removed the spring I20 will project the nozzle So outwardly into pouring position through the opening 'lc, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 7 and in full lines, Fig. 10.

In this embodiment of the invention the swiveled connection between the raised portion 40 and the can end is obtained through the use of a ring 40 which encircles the upstanding flange ll of the can end 3 and is soldered or otherwise permanently secured thereto.

This ring 40 is provided at its upper end with an inturned flange II and the raised portion 40 is provided at its lower edge with the outwardly directed flange 42 which underlies the flange M. The ring member 40 is deformed to provide the annular portion 43 which embraces the edge of the flange 42 and thereby retains said raised portion 40 in position. Said raised ortion 46, however, can turn about its axis and thus the nozzle 8c may be directed in different directions.

The flange 4| of the ring 40 is provided on its lower face with a stop projection 44 and the flange 42 of the raised portion 40 is provided on its upperface with a groove 45 which extends nearly but not quite around said flange. This construction permits the raised portion 40 to turn relative to the ring 40 but the ends 46 of the groove 45 cooperate with the stop projection 44 to limit the turning movement in either direction.

The cap I30 is shown as having a screwthreaded connection with the raised portion 40, and I will preferably so form the screw threads that the cap I30 may be removed by giving it a partial turn, and conversely may be applied to the raised portion by giving it a partial turn in the opposite direction. The cap 40 is shown as having a flange 4'! at its lower edge adapted to engage a gasket 98 carried in a groove 56 formed in the flange M of the ring, thereby to make a tight joint.

When the cap I30 is applied to the raised portion 40 or is removed therefrom the friction between the cap and the raised portion may be sufficient to turn the raised portion relative to the ring 40, but the engagement of the projection 44 with the ends 46 of the groove 45 will limit the turning movement of the raised portion 40, thus permitting the cap to be removed or replaced by applying continued turning movement to said cap. After the cap I 30 has been removed and the nozzle 80 has been projected into itspouring position, the swivel connection between the raised 7 portion 40 and the can permits said raised portion to be turned so as to present the nozzle in any desired direction.

In the construction shown in Figs. 7 to 10 the nozzle 80 is flattened and said nozzle and the spring I20 are guided by a guiding finger 48, said finger being encircled by the spring I20 and projecting into the nozzle when the latter is in its retracted position, as shown in Fig. 7. This finger 48 constitutes one arm of a U-shaped member 49 which is located within the raised portion 40 at its upperend and is rigidly retained in position in any suitable way, such as by spot welding the arm 50 thereof to the top 60 of said raised portion, or making said U-shaped member so that when it is forced into position it willbe frictionally retained in position.

The raised portion 40 will be provided with a vent opening to admit air as the contents of the liquid are being discharged.

In the manufacture of the can the housing 40, the nozzle 80, the guiding member 48 and the spring I20 may first be assembled as a unit, and then this unit may then be assembled with the ring 40 to make a complete nozzle assembly.

This nozzle assembly may then be secured to the can end by placing the ring 40 over the upstanding curb I I of the can end 3 and soldering or otherwise permanently securing said ring to the 75 curb. After the nozzle assembly has thus been attached to the can then said member 40 may be turned to present the nozzle 80 in any desired direction.

In all the embodiments of the invention the opening of the can to permit dispensing of some or all of its contents is accomplished merely by removing the cap [3, [3a or I30, and as soon as this is done the pouring nozzle will be automatically projected forwardly into pouring position.

When the desired amount has been dispensed from the can then the nozzle may be pushed back into its retracted position against the action of its spring and the cap again applied to the raised portion thereby sealing the can as effectively as was done when the can was first filled.

The presence of the vent opening allows free admission of air to the can as the liquid is dispensed through the pouring nozzle so that there will be a free flow from the nozzle without the intermittent gurgling action which occurs where the air is required to enter the can through the pouring nozzle against the outflowing stream of liquid.

I claim:

1. A can having its top end formed with a raised portion provided in its side wall with a spout-receiving opening and a vent opening, a removable cap enclosing said raised portion and sealing said openings, a pouring spout located within said raised portion and adapted to be projected through the spout-receiving opening, and a spring acting on the spout and tending normally to project it outwardly, said spout being held in its retracted position by the cap and being projected by the spring outwardly through the spout-receiving opening into the pouring position when the cap is removed.

2. A can having its top end formed with a raised portion provided in its side wall with a spout-receiving opening and a vent opening, a removable cap enclosing said raised portion and sealing said openings, a pouring spout located within said raised portion and extending parallel to the can end, said pouring spout adapted to be projected through the spout-receiving opening, and a spring within the raised portion. acting on the spout and tending normally to pro ject it outwardly, said spout being held in its retracted position by the cap and being projected outwardly into pouring position by the spring when the cap is removed.

3. A can having at its top end a raised portion which is swiveled thereto and which is provided in its side wall with a spout-receiving opening and a vent opening, a removable cap enclosing said raised portion and sealing said openings, a pouring spout located within said raised portion and. adapted to be projected through said spout-receiving opening, and a spring acting on the spout and tending normally to project it outwardly, said spout being held in its retracted position by the cap, whereby when the cap is removed the spring acts to project the spout outwardly into pouring position.

4. A can having at its top end a raised portion which is provided in its side wall with a spoutreceiving opening and a vent opening, a removable cap enclosing said raised portion and sealing said openings, a pouring spout located within said raised portion. and adapted to be projected through said spout-receiving opening, a spring acting on the spout and tending normally to project it outwardly, said spout being held in its retracted position by the cap, whereby when the cap is removed the spring acts to project the spout outwardly into pouring position, and a ring member secured to the can end and to which said raised portion is swiveled.

5. A can having at its top end a raised portion which is provided in its side wall with a spout-receiving opening and a vent opening, a removable cap enclosing said raised portion and sealing said openings, a pouring spout located within said raised portion and adapted to be projected through said spout-receiving opening, a spring acting on the spout and tending normally to project it outwardly, said spout being held in its retracted position by the cap, whereby when the cap is removed the spring acts to project the spout outwardly into pouring position, and a ring member secured to the can end and on which the raised portion is mounted for limited turning movement.

6. A can having its top end formed with a raised portion provided in its side wall with a spout-receiving opening and a vent opening, a removable cap enclosing said raised portion and sealing said openings, a pouring spout located within said raised portion and adapted tobe projected through the spout-receiving opening, a coil spring acting on the spout and tending normally to project it outwardly, and a guiding finger rigid with said raised portion and extending through the spring and into the spout when the latter is in retracted position, said finger serving to retain the spring in operative position and to guide the spout in its retracting movement, said spout being held in its retracted position by the cap and being projected by the spring outwardly through the spout-receiving opening when the cap is removed.

HARRY SEBELL. 

